A Lot Has Changed Since Jerry Brown Was Last in Sacramento

A phrase commonly used by Governor-Elect Jerry Brown during his election campaign was that he hasn’t been in Sacramento for 28 years and the state’s current problems are not of his creation.

GOP Gov. George Deukmejian succeeded Brown in January 1983.

The 72-year-old governor-elect has said he may not name a cabinet secretary for education – he didn’t have one before, he notes – and has indicated he intends to shrink the press office and legislative unit in the governor’s office closer to their size 30-some years ago.    Read more »

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Which Saint Raymond is the City of San Ramon Named After?

San Ramon in Contra Costa County — smack dab in the heart of the San Ramon Valley and the headquarters of Chevron and 24-Hour Fitness – has a population of more than 65,000 and isn’t named after Saint Raymond of Pennafort.

Saint Raymond of Pennafort, a Dominican friar, is the patron saint of lawyers.    Read more »

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More Predictions About California’s Economic Outlook in 2011

Focusing on the Central Valley, the part of California hit hardest by the implosion of the housing and construction industry, unemployment in several key areas will remain in the high double digits for at least the next two years, according to the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.    Read more »

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Speaking of California’s Double-Digit Unemployment Rate…

Several recent forecasts predict very modest job growth in 2011 but still show a double-digit unemployment rate.

In October, Leslie Appleton Young, the California Association of Realtors’ chief economist, predicted an unemployment rate this year of 12.3 percent (See post below) and 11.4 percent in 2011.

On October 29, the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton predicted 12 percent unemployment in 2011 for the Central Valley but unemployment dropping into the single digits in the Bay Area by the end of 2011.    Read more »

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California’s November Unemployment Rate Still 12.4 Percent

SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.4 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 1,600 during the month, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department from two separate surveys.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased in November to 9.8 percent.

In November 2009, the unemployment rate in California was 12.3 percent.    Read more »

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In the Holiday Spirit, This from California’s State Treasurer

STATE BUDGET GAP NARROWS

Dennis R. Ferguson, a 74-year-old retiree, has done his part to close California’s budget gap, sending the state a $10,000 check to pay back — with “interest” –unemployment benefits he received 46 years ago.

On the November 23, 2010 check, Ferguson wrote:

“REPAYMENT FOR WHAT CALIF. DID FOR ME!”    Read more »

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Perhaps It Would Have Been Smarter to Give Only $160,000

Dear XXXX, 2010:

What an amazing year for politics. America turned right while California veered left, leaving Democrats in charge of every statewide office and with their highest legislative numbers since the post-Watergate blowout year of 1974. And yet, voters rejected two tax increases on the California ballot while making it more difficult for Democrats to raise taxes disguised as fees.    Read more »

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Solicitations for Campaign Contributions Seem to Never End…

(Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Mike Feuer was elected to his third and final term in the Assembly in November. The Secretary of State reports that as of October 16, 2010 he had $189,728.17 in his campaign kitty. The $3,200.00 is needd for what purpose?)

-30-    Read more »

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Another Legal Confrontation Over the Sale of State Property

Eclipsed by the Schwarzenegger administration’s proposed $2.3 billion sale of 11 office buildings to a group of private investors is a similar effort to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

And like the sale of the office buildings – stayed at least through December 29 by an appellate judge on December 13 – the deal inked between the state and Facilities Management West to sell the fairgrounds for $96 million is being challenged in court.    Read more »

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Lawmaker Seeks More Public Notice of Legislative Meetings

Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries is some kind of killjoy.

Not only has the Riverside Republican introduced a constitutional amendment that would require the Legislature to meet only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. but he’s also introduced a second constitutional amendment to require public notice of hearings and the meetings of either house.    Read more »

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